I think Friar Laurence was largely responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. However, numerous other factors contributed and we cannot blame just one person. The circumstances, the historical period and the characters must be taken into consideration. The Friar is introduced halfway through the opera and his role is fundamental. In the first scene we see him with the poison, and this scene connects to the last two scenes and the consequences of the same poison. His entrance breaks the rhythm of the previous balcony scene and gives the audience time to absorb what happened between Romeo and Juliet. Juliet has an almost non-existent relationship with Capulet. Friar Laurence fills this void by portraying a father figure in Juliet's life. She trusts him and confides in him regularly. ^Hold your daughter. Ido spy a kind of hope^^ Furthermore, the Friar is also Romeo's confidant^and tries to find solutions to their overwhelming problems. He also gives Romeo the terrible news of his exile, and tries to do it in a humane way. He comforts the distraught Romeo and, when potential danger lurks, offers him refuge under his desk! Friar Laurence tries to dissuade Pairs from marrying Juliet. This may be selfish behavior on his part, as the Friar knows that he would be committing a sin if he married Juliet to Paris, when she was already married to Romeo. Another example of the Friar's selfish intentions, is the tomb scene, after which he finds Juliet in there, and two corpses lying on the floor, he needs no persuasion to leave, which he does with immense haste! The following incident is an example of how the Friar contributed to the deaths of the star-crossed lovers. He marries Romeo and Juliet, fully aware that he does not have parental consent. She should have refused to marry them or sought the advice of an older, more experienced member of the church. It was the friar's idea that Juliet should swallow the remedy. This was a very rash decision and, if thought through properly, would have realized the terrible consequences and complications that could have occurred. Friar Laurence contributed largely to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.